Hydraulic cylinder mounting assembly



July 9, 1968 E. B. LoNG 3,391,747

HYDRAULIC CYLINDER MOUNTING ASSEMBLY Filed April 20, 1965 United States Patent O 3,391,747 HYDRAULIC CYLINDER MOUNTING ASSEMBLY Elton B. Long, Burlington, Iowa, assigner to i. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Apr. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 449,420 2 Claims. (Ci. 172-809) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mounting assembly for supporting a hydraulic cylinder in offset fashion from the axis of its gimbal type support. The assembly includes a yoke member rotatable in the support and means for securing the cylinder in either an upwardly or a downwardly direction from the axis of the gimbal.

This invention relates to an improved mounting assembly for a hydraulic cylinder on a tractor-mounted implement, and more particularly to an assembly cooperating with a gimbal arrangement for raising and lowering an earth-working tool or equipment.

Gimbal type mountings or supports have been used on various types of equipment which require substantial rotation in the working range. A typical installation of a gimbal mounting is disclosed in Patent No. 3,039,213, issued to G. S. Allin, Jr.; Patent No. 2,624,131, issued to H. W. Rockwell; or Patent No. 2,973,592, issued to F. R. Abel. These disclosures show a gimbal mounting assembly that is secured to the framework on the tractor, and which allow pivotal movement of the cylinder relative to the mounting assembly, and also allow rotational movement of the cylinder relative to the tractor during the operation of raising and lowering the earth working equipment.

Generally, mounting brackets or Supports using the gimbal principle have been satisfactory but previous installations do not allow for adjustment of the supported equipments. The conventional gimbal type mounting restricts the positioning of the mounted equipment so that an operator is limited in his range of workable area. It is sometimes desirable to be able to adjust the working range or to vary the position of these equipments without installing additional parts on the supporting assembly or reworking the gimbal mounting.

Therefore, it is the principal object of this invention to provide a mounting assembly which can be positioned for varying the working range of the equipment.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a mounting assembly utilizing the gimbal arrangement for a compact and self-contained support for the equipment.

A further object is to provide a mounting assembly which will give additional clearance between the equip ment and the tractor.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specication and the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a tractormounted implement embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the invention taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, with parts removed;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the invention taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, with parts broken away; and

FIG. 4 is a side View taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2, with parts removed.

As seen in FIG. 1, the present invention is mounted on a tractor carrying a bulldozer assembly 12. Bulldozer 12 is secured to the tractor 1l) by means of a push trunnion 14 surrounding a pivot pin 16. Push trunnion 14 is secured to a tractor frame member 18. Bulldozer 12 is of a conventional type and includes a pair of forwardly extending push arms 2i), and a transversely extending blade 22. A hydraulic rain assembly 24 is positioned on each side of the tractor to raise and lower the bulldozer assembly 12, and each ram assembly includes a cylinder 26 and a suitable piston and rod assembly 28. The hydraulic ram assembly is attached. to the bulldozer 12 by lugs 30 which are secured to the push arms 20, and the piston and rod assemblies 2S are pivoted thereto by pins 32. A frame member or bracket 34 is rigidly secured as by welding to the tractors main frame, and is provided for positioning of the hydraulic ram assembly 24 on the tractor 10.

It will be understood that the various parts of the hydraulic lift mechanism are identical on each side of the tractor, so that only the parts on 'one side will be shown and described.

The gimbal arrangement described in this invention is of the type shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, although other constructions, as mentioned above and shown in the Allin, Rockwell, or Abel patents could be used for supporting the hydraulic cylinder assembly for proper operation. Cylinder 26 is supported on the tractor 10 by a gimbal mounting generally designated as 38 which is secured to the frame member 3ft. The gimbal mounting 3S in the present instance, includes a bracket member 40, a yokeshaped movable member 42, and a plurality of bearing elements 44. In the present embodiment ot the invention, the bearing elements are in the form of balls, but it is within the scope of the invention to use other types of bearing elements, as shown and disclosed in the abovementioned patents. The bracket member 40 is a formed casting which deiines a ring or annular portion 46 and a stationary portion d3. The ring portion 46 denes an opening 49 and is provided with a bearing groove 50 around its periphery 51 which serves as the outer bearing raceway for bearing elements 44. A threaded aperture 52 is defined in the ring portion 46 on one side to receive a threaded plug 53 and a second threaded aperture 54 is on the other side ot ring portion 46 to receive a threaded plug 55.

The yoke-shaped member t2 comprises a pair of arms 64 and 65. FIGS. 3 and 4, a tiange portion 66, and a shank portion 63. Shank portion 68 is of a diameter slightly less than that of opening 49 or periphery 51 of the ring portion 46 of bracket member 46. Shank portion 68 of yoke member 42 is provided with a bearing groove 70 which serves as the inner bearing raceway for bearing elements 44. The yoke arms 64 and 65 project at an angle from the ange 66 and define axially aligned apertures 72 in the outer portions 73. Thus, it can be seen that apertures 72 are offset from the center of the gimbal mounting 38, for a purpose which will be described. Bolt holes '74 are also defined in the arms 6d and 65 and are disposed adjacent the apertures 72, and their axes are positioned normal to the axes of apertures 72.

The cylinder 26 has a collar 76 suitably secured thereto, and of a size to tit between the arms 64 and 65 of the member 42. Collar 76 is provided with cylindrical bosses 7S which dene axially aligned recesses Si). Recesses Si) are of the same diameter as apertures 72 in the arm portions 73 and are provided to receive a pair of pins or shafts 82. Pins 82 retain cylinder 26 in predetermined relation to the yoke arms 64 and 65 while allowing pivotal movement of the cylinder 26 relative to yoke arms 64 and 65. Pins 82 are cylindrical in shape and define grooves 83 near their outer ends for cooperating with holes 7d. These grooves and the bolt 84 and the nut 86 are utilized to retain pins 82 in the recesses Si? and in the apertures '72 of the outer portions 73. Pins S2 also have a threaded aperture 87 which receives a conventional grease Ifitting 88. A bore 69 extends from the threaded aperture to a point near one end of the pin S2. A smaller bore extends transn, versely from bore 89 to the circumference of pin 82. Grease is inserted at fitting 88, and it then goes through bores 89 and 90 to the surface of recess Si) for lubrication of pin 32 as the pin turns in boss 78. Yoke arms 64 and 65 have a saw cut 92 defined in the outer portions '73 to permit tightening of nut 86 on bolt 84, thus securing the outer portions 73 on pins 82. This saw cut 92 is also lappreciated for ease in removing pins 82 when it is desired to ire-position yoke member 42. Yoke member 42 also has :a shoulder 94 dening a small opening 96 suitable for inserting grease to the bearing grooves 0 and 70 are lubrication of bearing elements dfi.

-It is th-us apparent that the yoke-shaped member 42 is free to rotate through 360, if required, in bracket member 40, on bearing elements 4d. As stated above, it may be desirable to adjust the range of or to vary the position of equipments mounted on the tractor. In the preferred embodiment, it is possible to change the working attitude of the dozer blade for operating under diiierent conditions. An operation may require more blade lift and less digging depth in certain areas, while in other areas, it may require less blade litt and more digging depth. The present invention provides an offset arrangement which allows the yoke member 42 to be set in two positions, one with the outer portions 73 upwardly and the other with the outer portions downwardly.

`In operation, if it is desired to have more blade lift and less digging depth, yoke member i2 is positioned with the outer portions 73 upwardly, as shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the hydraulic cylinder 26 will be in the upward direction by reason of collar 76 and bosses 78 being secured by pins 82 in the outer portions 73 of the yoke arms 64 land 65. lf it is desired to have less blade lift and more digging depth, yoke member 42 is positioned with the outer portions 73 downwardly. This is accomplished by removing nuts S6 from bolts 84, removing bolts 84 from bolt holes 74, removing pins 82 from apertures 72, rotating the yoke member 42 one-half revolution or 180 in bracket member 4t), and re-inserting pins 82 and bolts 54. in the lattermentioned position of the yoke member 42, ladditional clearance is also obtained between the dozer blade 112 and the tractor 10, by virtue of the lower position of the blade in relation to the tractor.

It can be appreciated that herein disclosed is an improved mounting assembly for a hydraulic cylinder which allows Iadjusting of or positioning of equipments for different attitudes of work.

While only one embodiment has been disclosed, it will be apparent that alterations and variations of the mounting assembly may be made. In addition, the mounting assembly can be adapted for use with Ia modied form of the gimbal mounting. The mounting arrangement herein disclosed is not limited to use with a bulldozer assembly, but it can be utilized for mounting la hydraulic cylinder for any type of equipment normally mounted on tractors by providing suitable bolt holes in the supporting framework.

Other variations may occur to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited by the specic embodiment described and illustrated, or in fact in any manner except as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States:

i. An improved mouting assembly for supporting a d hydraulic ram assembly on a tractor having an earth working implement; the improvement comprising pivot means on said ram `assembly having a pivotal taxis normal to the axis of said ram assembly, a yoke member defining outer portions thereon and being positioned to cooperate with and to allow tightening on said pivot means,

means on the tractor for supporting said mounting assembly, and bearing means in said mounting assembly support means and in said yoke member, said bearing means having an axis normal to the pivot means and being constructed such that said ram assembly may rotate relative to said mounting assembly support means While being restricted against 'axial movement, the outer portions extending ang-ularly from the centerline of the bearing means, said axis of said pivot means being otset with said outer portions from the axis of the 'bearing means in a direction longitudinally of said ram assembly whereby, in one position of said yoke member outer portions, said ram Iassembly is positioned for greater movement in one direction and, in another position of said yoke member outer portions, said ram assembly is positioned for greater' movement in the opposite direction.

2. A mounting assembly for a hydraulic ram assembly in combination with a gimbal mounting having a supporting member defining an opening and an outer lbearing raceway, said mounting assembly including a pivot means on said ram assembly, said pivot means having a pivotal axis normal to the longitudinal axis of said ram assembly,

a yoke member pivotally supporting said pivot means and connecting with said gimbal mounting, said member including arm portions extending angularlly from the centerline of said opening and defining a saw cut in the outer portions thereof to allow tightening on said pivot means,

a shank portion on said yoke member, said shank portion extending into said opening and having an inner bearing raceway being positioned to cooperate with said outer bearing raceway, said inner and said outer bearing raceways having a common pivotal axis for 360 rotation, and a plurality of bearing elements engaged with said inner and outer raceways in position to maintain said race- Ways in aligmnent, said pivotal axis of said pivot means being offset with said arm portions in a direction longitudinally of said ram assembly from said common pivotal axis such that, in the upward position off said yoke member portions, said rarn assembly is extended longitudinally in one direction and, in the downward position 180 rotated from the iirst-mentione'd position, said ram assembly is extended longitudinally in the opposite direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,717,138 6/1955 Sheehan 248-183 3,039,213 6/1962 Allin 37-144 3,059,889 10/1962 Pottmeyer 248-183 3,209,840 10/1965 Lehman 172-600 X 2,933,838 4/1960 Rockwell 37-144 ABRAHAM G. STGNE, Primary Examiner.

R. L. HOLLISTER, A. E. KOPECKI,

Assistant Examiners. 

